The hospital designed by hospitalized children and adolescents

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare Design
• Child Psychology in Healthcare Settings
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Designing child-centered hospital environments is crucial for patient well-being and development.
• Existing healthcare facilities may not adequately address the unique needs of pediatric patients.
• Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory and humanization principles offer a framework for improving hospital environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify characteristics of a hospital environment that promote well-being and development from the perspective of hospitalized children and adolescents.
• To inform the design of pediatric healthcare spaces based on user input.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive and exploratory qualitative study.
• Involved 30 hospitalized children and adolescents.
• Data collected via semi-structured interviews with drawing, analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• The designed hospital incorporates principles from Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory.
• Key elements include physical environmental resources and factors contributing to comfort and well-being.
• Integrates guidelines from the National Humanization Policy regarding the hospital environment.

Conclusions:

• The projected hospital design aligns with public policy recommendations for healthcare.
• Such environments contribute to the qualification of healthcare delivery for pediatric patients.
• Child-centered design enhances the overall hospital experience and supports recovery.